St Martin's, Ashton-upon-Mersey War Memorial
Churchyard of the Church of St Martin, Church Lane, Ashton-upon-Mersey, Trafford, M33 5PU
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1440079
- Date first listed:
- 20-Jan-2017
- List Entry Name:
- St Martin's, Ashton-upon-Mersey War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Martin, Church Lane, Ashton-upon-Mersey, Trafford, M33 5PU
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1440079
- Date first listed:
- 20-Jan-2017
- List Entry Name:
- St Martin's, Ashton-upon-Mersey War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Martin, Church Lane, Ashton-upon-Mersey, Trafford, M33 5PU
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Martin, Church Lane, Ashton-upon-Mersey, Trafford, M33 5PU
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Trafford (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SJ7717592978
Summary
First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
St Martin's, Ashton-upon-Mersey War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant and striking sandstone cross with decorative details;
* Group value: with St Martin's Church (Grade II*), lychgate and a sundial in the churchyard (both Grade II).
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at St Martin's, Ashton-upon-Mersey as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the parish who lost their lives in the First World War. The extension of the churchyard with the memorial were given by Sir Harry V Kilvert in 1921.
Following the Second World War, a dedication for those who lost their lives in that conflict was also added. Plaques inside the church and a stained glass window carry the names of the fallen.
Details
MATERIALS: sandstone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located within the churchyard of St Martin’s Church, and it comprises a cross surmounting a tapered shaft set on a stepped plinth. A crown with a smaller cross inside is carved at the centre of the cross arms. The front face of the plinth carries a large bronze wreath and the inscription which reads OUR GLORIOUS DEAD/ EUROPE/ 1914/ – / 1919/ AFRICA ASIA/ TO THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE OF THIS TOWNSHIP/ WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR THE CAUSE OF RIGHT AND JUSTICE IN THE GREAT WAR./ THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT./ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE."/ 1939/ – /1945/ ALSO THOSE WHO FELL IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
The plinth is set upon a two-stepped base.
This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 23 November 2017.
Sources
Websites
Ashton upon Mersey War Memorial, accessed 21 Sept 2016 from http://www.carlscam.com/warmem/ashtonm.htm
War memorial St Martin's Church, accessed 7 Sept 2016 from http://www.traffordwardead.co.uk/index.php?memorials=TRUE&memorial_id=91
War Memorials Register, accessed 27 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/3217
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/253772
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 10-Jul-2026 at 09:15:53.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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